Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata praises team-mate David de Gea for mental toughness

The Spaniard talks up his compatriot's ability to deal with the pressures of playing in goal for the Red Devils

Pals: Mata presents De Gea with the club's Player of the Season award last week (Photo: John Peters)

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Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata has praised his teammate David de Gea for the goalkeeper's mental toughness.

De Gea initially struggled after making a £19million move from Atletico Madrid in June 2011.

However, the Spaniard has since developed into one of the finest stoppers in the Premier League, and Mata talked up his compatriot's ability to deal with the pressure of playing in goal for one of the biggest teams in Europe.

Mata is quoted as saying in the Guardian: "He has huge faith in himself, which is a really important virtue. He doesn't let anything affect him.

"The day he makes a mistake he knows he has made a mistake but it never sinks him. He uses it to make sure that he doesn't make the mistake next time. It's a great quality. He's very calm.

"At times it seems almost like it's unconscious but that's a good thing. I didn't know him as well before as I do now and he's... a really lovely guy. He's also a brilliant goalkeeper."

Despite United 's deeply disappointing campaign, De Gea was voted as the club's Player of the Season last week.